Abstract
In January 1989, P.W. Botha suffered a stroke while preparing for the state opening of Parliament. Very unwisely from his point of view, he invited the National Party to elect a new leader in Parliament, though he had no intention of standing down as President. It was clear that the succession would be decided between two politicians — F.W. De Klerk and the Finance Minister, Barend du Plessis — with whom I had very friendly relations. General Magnus Malan, whom so many foreign observers had regarded as a likely successor, to my certain knowledge had just one vote in the parliamentary caucus — his own.
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© 1997 Sir Robin Renwick
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Renwick, R. (1997). De Klerk. In: Unconventional Diplomacy in Southern Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-25399-9_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-25399-9_16
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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